Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier

Eberhard Wächter (Performer), Harald Proglhoff (Performer), Franz Bierbach (Performer), Otto Edelmann (Performer), Richard Strauss (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Christa Ludwig (Performer), Anny Felbemayer (Performer), Anny Felbermayer (Performer), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Performer), Ljuba Welitsch (Performer), Teresa Stich-Randall (Performer), Erich Majkut (Performer), Gerhard Unger (Performer), Karl Friedrich (Performer), Nicolai Gedda (Performer), Paul Kuen (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Eberhard Wächter, Harald Proglhoff, Franz Bierbach, Otto Edelmann, Christa Ludwig, et al.
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Richard Strauss
• Audio CD (September 23, 1997)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B000002RXI
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #322,019 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Ludwig, Christa

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
An opera that seems to bring the best out of performers, Rosenkavalier inspired these perf ormers to make a recording for the ages. With a superb Ochs and glorious singing from its three leading l adies, and with Herbert von Karajan keeping the Philharmonia on the edge of its seat, this enticing portr ait of love from three angles emerges in all its bittersweet perfection. EMI recorded the opera with sepa rate engineering teams in stereo and mono; this remastering of the stereo version is preferable to the ve ry fine special-issue monaural remastering [EMI Classics 56113] brought out in 1996 as an 80th-birthday tribute to Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical reference of Der Rosenkavalier, November 13, 2000

By	Ha-De Nguyen (Paris, France (Europe)) - See all my reviews

Going through the other reviewing you will read that this version is exceptional or is too old technically for listeners that can only bear digital recordings. The point is, this version is a reference definitely but has been so for nearly half a century and maybe you would like to get something new for your ears. However I would probably recommend this version as a first purchasing if you have no idea of which to choose. Recorded in 1956 by EMI, the sound is in stereo but was only intended to be in mono. The producer Legge (Schwarzkopf's husband) was not convinced by that technology and only the engineer Parker was clever enough to make some attempts during the recording sessions. Therefore the whole set does not sound as a continuous unit with the orchestra sounding a little foggy. Voices are well caught but do not transmit all emotions as they should. Schwarzkopf cannot be replaced as the Marschallin and fortunately we have a good and complete portrayal from her in studio. But if you ever have the chance to see the movie made in 1960 at Salzburg, you will understand how in only 4 years, she has made this part definetly hers. Ludwig is vibrant and ardent as Oktavian (she was only 28) but sounds too mezzo. Jurinac was preferable but she had just recorded the part for Decca. Emi should then have chosen Grümmer! Stich-Randall is "silver-made" and you will never find a purer voice anywhere. But again, she also was 28 and lacks some determination in the character (I prefer her recording of the BW51 Cantate from Bach!). Ochs is from Vienna and one can hear his typical accent clearly but he does not really have the lower notes or the darker tone demanded by this role (see Weber, Böhme, Moll or Ridderbusch). Karajan gives a superb interpretation without underlining the legato too much as he later did in 1983 for DG. As a conclusion, do not hesitate to buy this set. If you already have it (even in older mastering, sound is not really improved and is even cooler here), try the fabulous live recording from Myto with Kleiber JR. conducting which I've given 5 stars!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still THE Rosenkavalier, June 10, 1999

By A Customer

The Karajan/Schwarzkopf/Ludwig team are still unbeatable amongst a collection of great Rosenkavaliers out there. Elizabeth Schwarzkopf in particular is definitive; her finely nuanced acting in peak form in this recording. And her voice was born to be paired with Christa Ludwig's. The final trio of the women is heart-breakingly gorgeous. A beautiful recording, lush and intimate.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but Solti or Kleiber are Preferable, January 13, 2001

By A Customer

There are many things right with this recording--so many that it has attained classic status. But I also think there are enough things wrong with it to make it less than a first choice. First of all, Karajan makes all the traditional cuts in the score, the worst being the truncation of the Baron's amusing Act 1 monologue. This alone makes the uncut sets by Solti (on Decca) and Erich Kleiber (also on Decca) preferable. Second, the 1956 stereo sound is only acceptable; Schwartzkopf thought the mono version sounded better, and she may well be right. Third, I find problems with some of the singing: Stitch-Randall is an intelligent Sophie, but her voice is rather "white" and not particularly attractive, and Ludwig, who of course sings beautifully, doesn't sound very boyish.

This is a very good recording, of course. But two recordings are preferable, both for having no cuts and for all-around performances. Erich Kleiber's 1954 recording, while in mono, has adequate sound, along with great conducting and fine singing. The first choice for this opera, though, is Georg Solti's recording on Decca, blessed with superb stereo sound and perhaps the best cast of all: Regine Crespin's moving and charming Marschallin (a bit past her best but still great), Yvonne Minton's eager, ardent Octavian, and the unmatched Sophie of Helen Donath. Solti is at his best, and the only real flaws in the recording are a few audible tape splices that briefly break the mood. The Solti recording is not available from amazon.com, but, strangely enough, it is available from amazon's British branch, www.amazon.co.uk!